Utility vehicle

ABSTRACT

A utility vehicle includes: a seat; a back panel at least a part of which is disposed behind the seat; and a battery disposed behind the back panel. The battery is disposed above a seating surface of the seat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a utility vehicle, and moreparticularly to a battery included in a utility vehicle.

2. Description of Related Art

A utility vehicle capable of performing off-road driving, such as avehicle described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,446,796 B2, has been known.According to the utility vehicle of this type, a battery is placed in abattery compartment below a seat.

In this arrangement, however, the battery disposed below the seat is noteasily accessible during maintenance. In addition, for the utilityvehicle of the type capable of crossing over a river, measures forwaterproofing need to be taken to prevent entrance of water into thebattery compartment.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide waterproofing for abattery, and facilitate access to the battery.

For achieving the above object, a utility vehicle according to an aspectof the present invention includes: a seat; a back panel at least a partof which is disposed behind the seat; and a battery disposed behind theback panel. The battery is disposed above a seating surface of the seat.

According to this aspect, waterproofing for the battery is provided, andaccess to the battery is facilitated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a right rear perspective view of a utility vehicle accordingto an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the utility vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the utility vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the utility vehicle.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the utility vehicle.

FIG. 6 is a left rear perspective view of a vehicle body frame of theutility vehicle.

FIG. 7 is a left rear perspective view of a part of the vehicle bodyframe of the utility vehicle.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the utility vehicle from which a carrier isremoved.

FIG. 9 is a left rear perspective view of the utility vehicle from whicha left side cover and a transmission chamber left cover are removed.

FIG. 10 is a right rear perspective view of a main part around a batteryand a power unit.

FIG. 11 is a right rear perspective view of the utility vehicle,illustrating an area around the power unit from which wheels and an aircleaner box are removed.

FIG. 12 is a left side view of the utility vehicle from which the leftside cover is removed.

FIG. 13 is a right side view of a main part around the power unit.

FIG. 14 is a right side view of the main part around the power unit fromwhich the air cleaner box and an intake pipe shown in FIG. 13 areremoved.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the main part around the power unit.

FIG. 16 is a front perspective view illustrating a part of the vehiclebody frame of the utility vehicle.

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a positional relationship between thebattery and a fuel tank as viewed forward from a transverse crosssection of the utility vehicle.

FIG. 18 is a right rear perspective view of the utility vehicle fromwhich a lid of an electrical component box is removed.

FIG. 19 is a partial view of a back panel around the electricalcomponent box.

FIG. 20 is a front perspective view of a case body.

FIG. 21 is a front view around the electrical component box from whichthe lid is removed.

FIG. 22 is a rear perspective view of the lid.

FIG. 23 is a view as viewed upward from a transverse cross sectionaround the electrical component box.

FIG. 24 is a partial enlarged view of the electrical component box.

FIG. 25 is a top view of a harness, the battery, and the electricalcomponent box.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A utility vehicle according to an aspect of the present inventionincludes: a seat; a back panel at least a part of which is disposedbehind the seat; and a battery disposed behind the back panel. Thebattery is disposed above a seating surface of the seat.

For example, a carrier disposed behind the back panel is provided. Thebattery is disposed between the back panel and the carrier. The batteryis disposed above a lower end of the carrier.

For example, a power unit that includes an engine and a speed changemechanism configured to change a number of rotations of an output fromthe engine is provided. An exhaust pipe connected to the engine isprovided. The power unit is disposed behind the back panel and below thebattery. The exhaust pipe extends in a direction opposite to the batteryin a vehicle width direction from a connection portion with the engine,and further extends rearward on one side of the utility vehicle on aside opposite to the battery with respect to a vehicle width directioncenter plane.

For example, a silencer connected to the exhaust pipe is provided. Thesilencer is disposed directly below a rear portion of the carrier.

For example, a transmission chamber that houses the speed changemechanism, a first pipe that feeds outside air to the transmissionchamber, and a second pipe that discharges air from an inside of thetransmission chamber are provided. The first pipe passes directly belowthe battery. The first pipe and the second pipe pass through a side ofthe battery.

For example, an air outlet port of the second pipe overlaps the batteryin a side view. The air outlet port is directed to the engine.

For example, an air cleaner box disposed on a side opposite to thebattery in the vehicle width direction and disposed to face the battery,and an intake pipe extended from the air cleaner box and connected tothe engine are provided. The intake pipe is disposed between the exhaustpipe and the air cleaner box in a side view.

For example, a fuel tank disposed below the seat is provided. Thebattery is disposed on a side opposite to a protrusion that protrudesdownward from the fuel tank with respect to a vehicle width directioncenter plane.

For example, a side cover disposed outside the battery in the vehiclewidth direction, and an upper cover that covers an upper portion of thebattery are provided.

A more detailed embodiment will be hereinafter described with referenceto FIGS. 1 to 25. FIGS. 1 to 25 each illustrate a utility vehicleaccording to an embodiment.

Note that excessively detailed description may be omitted. For example,detailed description of well-known matters and repeated explanation onsubstantially the same configuration may be omitted. These omissions aremade to avoid unnecessary redundancy of following description, and tohelp easy understanding by those skilled in the art. Similarly, someconstituent elements are not shown in the respective figures to helpeasy understanding of positional relationships between respectiveconstituent elements.

The inventors of the present invention provide the accompanying drawingsand the following description to help those skilled in the artsufficiently understand the present disclosure. The drawings anddescription are therefore not intended to limit the subject mattersclaimed in the appended claims.

In addition, the terms “front”, “rear”, “left” and “right” included inthe present specification are defined as viewed from a driver who sitsin and drives a utility vehicle. A front-rear direction is representedby an X axis, a left-right direction corresponding to a vehicle widthdirection is represented by a Y axis, and a height directioncorresponding to an up-down direction is represented by a Z axis.

Refer to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. 1 is a right rear perspective view of autility vehicle 10 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a top view ofthe utility vehicle 10. FIG. 3 is a left side view of the utilityvehicle. FIG. 4 is a right side view of the utility vehicle 10. FIG. 5is a rear view of the utility vehicle 10.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, the utility vehicle 10 includes avehicle body frame 12, a pair of front wheels 14 and a pair of rearwheels 16 supporting the vehicle body frame 12, a cabin 18 which is aspace where the driver is present, a pair of openable and closable leftand right doors 19, and a seat 20 supported by the vehicle body frame12. The utility vehicle 10 further includes a back panel 22 at least apart of which is disposed behind the seat 20, a carrier 24 disposedbehind the back panel 22, a power unit 26 disposed below the carrier 24,an exhaust pipe 28 through which exhaust gas from the power unit 26passes, and a silencer 30 connected to the exhaust pipe 28.

The seat 20 has a seat cushion 20A on which the driver and an occupantsit, and a backrest 20B which contacts the backs of the driver and theoccupant.

The utility vehicle 10 includes a side cover 70 covering at least a partof the side of the vehicle body frame 12, and an upper cover 72 disposedbetween the back panel 22 and the carrier 24 and covering an upper sideof a battery 60.

The side cover 70 includes a pair of left and right upper first sidecovers 74, a pair of left and right upper second side covers 76 disposedin contact with a lower portion of the upper first side covers 74, apair of left and right middle side covers 78 disposed below the upperfirst side covers 74 and the upper second side covers 76, and a pair ofleft and right lower side covers 80 disposed below the middle sidecovers 78.

The carrier 24 includes a carrier left side wall portion 24L, a carriercenter portion 24C on which a load is placed, and a carrier right sidewall portion 24R. Respective upper surfaces of the carrier left sidewall portion 24L and the carrier right side wall portion 24R extendoutward.

Now refer to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a left rear perspective view ofthe vehicle body frame 12. FIG. 7 is a left rear perspective view of apart of the vehicle body frame of the utility vehicle. The vehicle bodyframe 12 includes a pair of main frames 32 extending in the front-reardirection, a rollover protective structure (ROPS) 34 surrounding thecabin 18, a cross member 36 connecting the pair of main frames 32, and acarrier frame 37 supporting the carrier 24.

The main frame 32 includes a left main frame 32L and a right main frame32R. The ROPS 34 includes a left ROPS 34L and a right ROPS 34R. In thevehicle width direction (Y direction) of the utility vehicle 10, theleft ROPS 34L is disposed outside the left main frame 32L, while theright ROPS 34R is disposed outside the right main frame 32R. The leftROPS 34L and the left main frame 32L, and the right ROPS 34R and theright main frame 32R are respectively connected by a sub frame 35.

The cross member 36 includes an upper cross member 36A connecting a rearupper portion of the left ROPS 34L and a rear upper portion of the rightROPS 34R, and a middle cross member 36B connecting a rear middle portionof the left ROPS 34L and a rear middle portion of the right ROPS 34R.The middle cross member 36B has a U shape protruding rearward.

The vehicle body frame 12 further includes a left L-shaped frame 38Lconnected to the middle cross member 36B and rear end of the left mainframe 32L, and a right L-shaped frame 38R connected to the middle crossmember 36B and rear end of the right main frame 32R. The vehicle bodyframe 12 further includes a left rear frame 40L connecting connectionpoints between the left ROPS 34L and the upper cross member 36A, withrear upper portions of the left L-shaped frame 38L, and a right rearframe 40R connecting connection points between the right ROPS 34R andthe upper cross member 36A, with rear upper portions of the rightL-shaped frame 38R. The vehicle body frame 12 further includes a leftvertical pipe 42L connected to the middle cross member 36B and the leftmain frame 32L, and a right vertical pipe 42R connected to the middlecross member 36B and the right main frame 32R.

The vehicle body frame 12 further includes a cross member 44 connectedto the left vertical pipe 42L and the right vertical pipe 42R, a subframe 46 connected to the left vertical pipe 42L and the left ROPS 34L,and a sub frame 48 (see FIG. 17) connected to the right vertical pipe42R and the right ROPS 34R.

The carrier frame 37 includes a U-shaped carrier frame 37A and a rearcross member 37B respectively connected to the left L-shaped frame 38Land the right L-shaped frame 38R, and a pair of carrier bottom frames37C connected to the U-shaped carrier frame 37A and the rear crossmember 37B. One end of the U-shaped carrier frame 37A is connectedbetween a connection portion between the left L-shaped frame 38L and themiddle cross member 36B, and a connection portion between the leftL-shaped frame 38L and the left rear frame 40L. The other end of theU-shaped carrier frame 37A is connected between a connection portionbetween the right L-shaped frame 38R and the middle cross member 368,and a connection portion between the right L-shaped frame 38R and theright rear frame 40R. The U-shaped carrier frame 37A has a U shapeprotruding downward. The rear cross member 37B is connected to the leftL-shaped frame 38L and the right L-shaped frame 38R behind theconnection portion between the left L-shaped frame 38L and the left rearframe 40L and the connection portion between the right L-shaped frame38R and the right rear frame 40R.

The vehicle body frame 12 further includes a pair of hip guard pipes 50connected to respective rear lower portions of the pair of ROPS 34, ashoulder guard pipe 52 connecting respective upper portions of the pairof hip guard pipes 50 and the pair of ROPS 34, and a seat frame 54supporting the seat 20. The seat frame 54 includes a front seat frame54A and a rear seat frame 54B. Both ends of the front seat frame 54A arerespectively connected to the pair of hip guard pipes 50. The rear seatframe 54B is connected to the pair of main frames 32 via a verticalpipe.

The vehicle body frame 12 further includes a bracket 56 extending inwardin the vehicle width direction from the left vertical pipe 42L. Theutility vehicle 10 includes the battery 60 supported by the bracket 56via a support plate 58. A back panel 22 made of resin is supported bythe middle cross member 36B and the cross member 44.

The vehicle body frame 12 further includes a pipe 62L connected to theleft main frame 32L and a lower portion of the left vertical pipe 42L, apipe 62R connected to the right main frame 32R and a lower portion ofthe right vertical pipe 42R, a pipe 64 connected to middle portions ofthe pipe 62L and the pipe 62R, and a bracket 66 connected to the pipe64. The power unit 26 is fixed to the bracket 66.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the utility vehicle 10 from which the carrier24 is removed. An air cleaner box 86 is disposed on the side opposite tothe battery 60 in the vehicle width direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the upper first side cover 74 and the uppersecond side cover 76 disposed outside the battery 60 in the vehiclewidth direction cover the outside of the battery 60. The upper cover 72covers an upper portion of the battery 60. The cover covering theoutside and the upper portion of the battery 60 in this manner canprotect the battery GO from water, rain, and dust flying from above andoutside.

Now Refer to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a left rear perspective view of theutility vehicle 10 from which the front wheels 14, the rear wheels 16,the side cover 70, and the doors 19 are removed. The power unit 26includes an engine 26A, a transmission 26B that changes a rotationnumber of an output from the engine 26A, a transmission chamber 26C thathouses the transmission 26B, and a power generator 26D that generateselectric power using power of the engine 26A. The utility vehicle 10includes a first pipe 82 that feeds the outside air to the transmissionchamber 26C, and a second pipe 84 that discharges air from thetransmission chamber 26C.

The transmission 26B is a continuously variable transmission mechanism(CVT), for example. A belt 26Ba is stretched between two pulleys 26Bb. Aflow of air is generated within the transmission chamber 26C in arotation direction of the belt 26Ba.

One end of the first pipe 82 is connected to an air intake port formedin the upper surface of the carrier left side wall portion 24L. Theoutside air is introduced from this air intake port. The periphery ofthe air intake port is covered by a left air intake cover 88. The firstpipe 82 is extended downward on the outside of the battery 60 in thevehicle width direction from the air intake port, bent inward in thevehicle width direction, extended below the battery 60, further bentrearward, and connected to an air intake port 26Ca of the transmissionchamber 26C.

In this case, the first pipe 82 through which the outside air passes isdisposed outside and below the battery 60. Accordingly, an ambienttemperature of the battery 60 whose upper side and outside are coveredby the cover can decrease.

The outside air having entered the transmission chamber 26C circulateswithin the transmission chamber 26C in accordance with rotation of thebelt 26Ba to cool the transmission 26B. The air having circulated isexhausted from an air outlet port 26Cb of the transmission chamber 26Cto the second pipe 84.

Refer to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 is a right rear perspective view of amain part around the battery 60 and the power unit 26. FIG. 11 is aright rear perspective view of the utility vehicle 10, illustrating anarea around the power unit 26 from which the air cleaner box 86 isremoved. The second pipe 84 includes a first air outlet port 84Aextended upward and transversely inward of the battery 60 from thetransmission chamber 26C, then bent toward the air cleaner box 86, andopened to the exhaust pipe 28, and further includes a second air outletport MB opened to the engine 26A.

Air flowing from the second air outlet port 84B is directed toward therear from the battery 60, and therefore a flow of hot air from theengine 26A toward the battery 60 located on the front is preventable.Accordingly, a temperature rise of the battery 60 is avoidable.

Furthermore, the second air outlet port 84B of the second pipe 84overlaps the battery 60 in a side view (see FIG. 14), and is positionedat substantially the same height as the height of the battery 60. Thesecond air outlet port 84B of the second pipe 84 faces the engine 26Alocated below the second air outlet port 84B. Air flowing from thetransmission chamber 26C is directed toward the engine 26A from theheight of the battery 60, wherefore a rising flow of hot air from theengine 26A toward the battery 60 is preventable.

In addition, air flowing from the first air outlet port 84A is directeddownward from above the exhaust pipe 28, and therefore an upward flow ofheat from the exhaust pipe 28 is preventable. In this manner, the airhaving cooled the transmission chamber 26C releases heat generated fromthe engine 26A and the exhaust pipe 28 downward. Accordingly, atemperature rise of the battery 60 is avoidable.

The first pipe 82 and the second pipe 84 are disposed around the battery60. The first pipe 82 is a pipe through which the outside air forcooling the transmission chamber 26C passes, while the second pipe 84 isa pipe through which air having passed through the transmission chamber26C passes. The temperature of the air having passed through thetransmission chamber 26C is lower than the ambient temperature of theengine 26A. Accordingly, the ambient temperature of the battery 60 islowered by the outside air temperature, or the temperature of thetransmission chamber 26C lower than the ambient temperature of theengine 26A.

Now refer to FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a left side view of the utility vehicle10 from which the side cover 70, the first pipe 82, and the left door 19are removed. A height Hb from the ground to the lower surface of thebattery 60 is larger than a height Hp from the ground to the lower endof an air outlet port 30 a of the silencer 30. The height Hb is alsolarger than a height Hs from the ground to an upper end 20Aa of the seatcushion 20A of the seat 20, and larger than a height He from the groundto the lower end of the carrier 24. A relationship of Hb>He>Hs>Hp holdsin the heights.

The driver tends highly not to enter a river having such a depth atwhich the seating surface of the seat cushion 20A is immersed in waterto avoid such a situation that the seating surface of the seat cushion20A is drenched. Accordingly, in the arrangement that the battery 60 islocated at a position higher than the upper end 20Aa of the seat cushion20A, water resistance improves without a necessity of taking measuresfor waterproofing of the battery 60. In addition, corrosion caused bywater for a harness, electric wires, and the like connected to thebattery 60 can decrease. Moreover, in the arrangement that the battery60 is mounted at a higher position from the ground as described above,direct adhesion of water and dust to the battery 60, caused when thewater and dust are raised by a tire rotation of the rear wheels 16, candecrease. Furthermore, in the arrangement that the battery 60 is locatedhigher than the seating surface of the seat cushion 20A, accessibilityto the battery 60 improves.

In addition, the driver tends not to enter a river having a depth atwhich the carrier 24 is immersed in water to avoid such a situation thata load placed on the carrier 24 is drenched. The battery 60 is disposedabove the lower end of the carrier 24. In this case, even if the utilityvehicle 10 enters a river, the battery 60 is difficult to drench withwater. Accordingly, water resistance can improve. In addition, in astate that the upper cover 72 is removed, the user can access thebattery 60 in a standing posture. Accordingly, maintainability canfurther improve.

Furthermore, the silencer 30 connected to the exhaust pipe 28 isdisposed immediately below a rear portion of the carrier 24. In thisarrangement, the battery 60 disposed forward of the carrier 24 islocated away from the silencer 30. Accordingly, effect of heat of thesilencer 30 on the battery 60 is preventable.

Now refer to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a right rear perspective view of a mainpart around the battery 60 and the power unit 26. The outside air isintroduced into the air cleaner box 86 through an air intake duct 92(FIG. 11) inserted into a right air intake cover 90. A filter isdisposed within the air cleaner box 86 to purify the introduced outsideair. The outside air purified at the air cleaner box 86 passes throughan air intake pipe 94 and is fed to the engine 26A of the power unit 26.Meanwhile, the exhaust pipe 28 through which exhaust gas discharged fromthe engine 26A passes includes an exhaust manifold portion 28A connectedto the engine 26A, and an exhaust pipe 28B connected to the exhaustmanifold portion 28A. The rear end of the exhaust pipe 28B is connectedto the silencer 30.

A positive terminal 60A of the battery 60 is connected to the powergenerator 26D (see FIG. 25) via a harness. The positive terminal 60A isfurther connected to a harness bundled in a main harness 126 extendingto an electrical component box 98. A negative terminal 60B of thebattery 60 is connected to the middle cross member 36B via a harness tobe body-grounded.

Now refer to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is a right side view of a main part aroundthe power unit 26. The air intake pipe 94 is disposed between theexhaust pipe 28 and the air cleaner box 86 in a side view. The battery60 is disposed on the side opposite to the air cleaner box 86 in thevehicle width direction. High-temperature exhaust gas discharged fromthe engine 26A flows through the exhaust pipe 28. However, in thearrangement that the battery 60 and the exhaust pipe 28 are sufficientlyseparated from each other, direct transmission of heat from the exhaustpipe 28 to the battery 60 can decrease.

Now refer to FIGS. 14 and 15 as well. FIG. 14 is a right side view ofthe main part around the power unit 26 and does not show the air cleanerbox 86 and the air intake pipe 94. FIG. 15 is a top view of the mainpart around the power unit 26. The power unit 26 is disposed behind theback panel 22 and below the battery 60. The exhaust manifold portion 28Aextends in a direction opposite to the battery 60 in the vehicle widthdirection from a connection portion with the engine 26A, and furtherextends rearward on one side of the utility vehicle 10 on the sideopposite to the battery 60 with respect to a vehicle width directioncenter plane CP. The exhaust pipe 28B connected to the exhaust manifoldportion 28A also extends rearward on the one side of the utility vehicle10 on the side opposite to the battery 60 with respect to the vehiclewidth direction center plane CP.

The battery 60 and the exhaust pipe 28 are disposed on the sidesopposite to each other with respect to the vehicle width directioncenter plane CP. In this arrangement, the battery 60 and the exhaustpipe 28 are disposed away from each other, and therefore effect of heatof the exhaust pipe 28 on the battery 60 can decrease.

Now refer to FIGS. 16 and 17. FIG. 16 is a front perspective view of apart of the vehicle body frame of the utility vehicle. FIG. 17 is a viewillustrating a positional relationship between the battery 60 and a fueltank 96 as viewed forward from a transverse cross section of the utilityvehicle 10. The utility vehicle 10 includes the fuel tank 96 disposedbelow the seat 20. The fuel tank 96 is supported by the left main frame32L, the front seat frame 54A, and the rear seat frame 54B. A fuelfiller port 96A (see FIG. 4) of the fuel tank 96 is so disposed as toface outward in the vehicle width direction.

The battery 60 is disposed on the side opposite to a protrusion 96B,which protrudes downward from the fuel tank 96, with respect to thevehicle width direction center plane CP. The protrusion 96B is disposedon the fuel filler port 96A side with respect to the vehicle widthdirection center plane CP, in such a shape as to protrude verticallydownward. A drive shaft passes through a lower portion of the fuel tank96. Accordingly, a lower end portion 96C of the fuel tank 96 is disposedon the fuel filler port 96A side with respect to the vehicle widthdirection center plane CP. The lower end portion 96C of the protrusion96B corresponds to a lower end portion of the fuel tank 96. Accordingly,efficient mixture between fuel newly supplied from the fuel filler port96A, and fuel remaining in the lower end portion 96C is achievable.

The fuel tank 96 has a substantially rectangular shape having long sidesextending in the vehicle width direction in a top view. In addition, thefuel tank 96 has the protrusion 96B protruding downward in a rear view.The protrusion 96B has a height of approximately ⅓ of the total heightof the fuel tank 96. The lower end portion 96C of the protrusion 96Bprotruding downward is disposed on the fuel filler port 96A side.Accordingly, at least the half or more of the volume of the fuel tank 96is disposed on the side opposite to the battery 60 with respect to thecenter plane CP. The fuel tank 96 containing fuel therefore has a centerof gravity on the side opposite to the battery 60 with respect to thecenter plane CP. In the foregoing arrangement that the battery 60 islocated on the side opposite to the protrusion 96B protruding downwardfrom the fuel tank 96 with respect to the center plane CP, weightunbalance between the right and left sides of the utility vehicle 10 candecrease.

Described now with reference to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 18 to 21 is theelectrical component box 98 that houses electrical components connectedto various electric parts included in the utility vehicle 10 via aharness. FIG. 18 is a right rear perspective view of the utility vehicle10 from which a lid 22C of the electrical component box 98 is removed.FIG. 19 is a partial view of a back panel around the electricalcomponent box. FIG. 20 is a front perspective view of a case body. FIG.21 is a front view around the electrical component box 98 from which thelid 22C is removed. The electrical component box 98 is formed in theback panel 22.

A box portion 22B having an opening 22A on the cabin 18 side is formedin a part of the back panel 22. The utility vehicle 10 includes a lid22C covering the opening 22A, and electrical components 100 housed inthe box portion 22B. Note that the box portion 22B may be formed on alower wall 22E instead of a side wall 22D of the back panel 22. Theutility vehicle 10 further includes a case body 102 fixed to the insideof the box portion 22B. The electrical component box 98 is constitutedby the box portion 22B, the case body 102, and the lid 22C.

In the arrangement that the box portion 22B having the opening 22A onthe cabin 18 side is formed in a part of the back panel 22, theelectrical component box 98 which houses the electrical components 100is allowed to be disposed in the cabin 18. For example, the electricalcomponents 100 includes an electronic control unit (ECU) 100A whichcontrols the engine 26A, and a relay 100B which connects and disconnectsbetween a harness from the battery 60 and a headlight 134 and ataillight 130. For example, the electrical components 100 include afuse, a breaker, and a terminal. The interior of the cabin 18 is a spacewhere the driver and the occupant are present, and is located in arelatively clean environment in the utility vehicle 10. In thearrangement that the electrical component box 98 is disposed in thecabin 18 thus formed, entrance of water and dust into the electricalcomponent box 98 can decrease.

The box portion 22B is formed on the side wall 22D of the back panel 22facing the rear surface of the backrest 20B of the seat 20. The opening22A of the box portion 22B faces the rear surface of the seat 20, and isextended in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, even if waterenters the box portion 22B through the lid 22C covering the opening 22Aof the box portion 22B, the water drops along the opening 22A of the boxportion 22B by gravity. Accordingly, entrance of water into thehorizontally inside with respect to the opening 22A of the box portion228 is preventable. In this manner, more reduction of entrance of waterand dust into the box portion 22B is achievable than in such aconfiguration where the opening 22A of the box portion 22B faces upward.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the box portion 22B is disposed above anupper end 20Aa of the seating surface of the seat cushion 20A of theseat 20. In this case, the electrical component box 98 is brought intosufficient contact with the outside air flowing inside the cabin 18. Inaddition, wind can easily pass therethrough, and heat does not staywithin the electrical component box 98. For example, in a configurationwhere the box portion 22B is provided inside a console 104 (see FIG. 2)disposed at a lower portion of the cabin 18, hot air coming from aradiator and passing through the inside of the console 104 tends to betrapped thereat. In this case, measures against heat need to be takenfor the box portion. Moreover, the inside of the console 104 where adrive shaft passes is not a clean environment. According to the presentembodiment, however, the electrical component box 98 is disposed withinthe cabin 18, and the box portion 22B is brought into sufficient contactwith the outside air. Accordingly, measures against heat need not betaken for the electrical component box 98.

As illustrated in FIG. 21, the box portion 22B has a downwardly taperedshape in a front view. Moreover, as illustrated in FIGS. 23 and 24, thebox portion 22B includes a bottom portion 110, a side wall portion 112extending from the bottom portion 110 toward the opening 22A, and arecess 114 into which the lid 22C is fitted along the opening 22A on theoutside of an end portion 112 a of the side wall portion 112. The endportion 112 a of the side wall portion 112 forming the inner wall of therecess 114 protrudes from a bottom portion 116 of the recess 114.Meanwhile, a side wall portion 117 forming the outer wall of the recess114 is continuous with the back panel 22.

As illustrated in FIGS. 22 and 23, the lid 22C includes a first wallportion 22Ca formed along the outer periphery of the lid 22C, a secondwall portion 22Cb formed along the outer side surface of the side wallportion 112 of the box portion 22B inside the first wall portion 22Ca,and a third wall portion 22Cc formed inside the second wall portion 22Cbalong the inner side surface of the side wall portion 112 of the boxportion 22B. Note that each of the second wall portion 22Cb and thethird wall portion 22Cc is not formed in a part of a lower portion ofthe lid 22C, producing a discontinuous part. In addition, the length ofthe third wall portion 22Cc in the depth direction is larger than eachlength of the first wall portion 22Ca and the second wall portion 22Cbin the depth direction.

The volume of the case body 102 is smaller than the volume of the boxportion 22B. The case body 102 has an opening 102A extended in a samedirection as the direction of the opening 22A of the box portion 22B.The case body 102 houses the electrical components 100, while the lid22C covers the opening 102A of the case body 102. The case body 102 ishoused and fixed in the box portion 22B. The entire opening 22A of thebox portion 22B is covered by the lid 22C from the front. The electricalcomponent box 98 therefore has a double structure which can furtherimprove waterproofing.

The first wall portion 22Ca and the second wall portion 22Cb of the lid22C are fitted into the recess 114 of the box portion 22B. The side wallportion 112 of the box portion 22B is further fitted between the secondwall portion 22Cb and the third wall portion 22Cc of the lid 22C. Asillustrated in FIG. 24, the third wall portion 22Cc of the lid 22C isdisposed between an end portion 118 a of a side wall portion 118 of thecase body 102 on the opening 102A side, and the end portion 112 a of theside wall portion 112 of the box portion 22B.

In this manner, a connection portion 121 between the lid 22C and therespective openings 22A and 102A of the box portion 22B and the casebody 102 has a labyrinth structure constituted by the first wall portion22Ca and the second wall portion 22Cb of the lid 22C, the side wallportion 112 of the box portion 22B, and the side wall portion 118 of thecase body 102. The connection between the box portion 22B, the case body102, and the lid 22C by the labyrinth structure further improveswaterproofing.

In this case, water having fallen on the electrical component box 98needs to pass along this labyrinth structure before entering theelectrical component box 98. However, most of the water drops by the ownweight of the water through the first wall portion 22Ca, the second wallportion 22Cb, and the third wall portion 22Cc of the lid 22C, the sidewall portion 112 of the box portion 22B, and the outer peripheral sideof the side wall portion 118 of the case body 102. Accordingly, entranceof the water into the case body 102 is preventable.

A hole 120 (see FIG. 15) through which the main harness 126 is insertedinto the box portion 22B is formed in a lower portion of the box portion22B. Meanwhile, water having entered the inside of the lid 22C dropsalong the respective wall portions of the lid 22C, and is discharged tothe outside from the hole 120.

The ECU 100A is fixed to two pillar portions 122 protruding forward fromthe case body 102. The main harness 126 extends from the ECU 100A,passes through the hole 120 and a hole 124 (see FIG. 21) formed in theback panel 22, and further extends rearward as illustrated in FIG. 25 tobe connected to a fuel injection device 125 of the engine 26A, aregulator rectifier, and various sensors such as a rollover sensor andan intake air temperature sensor. In addition, a sub harness 128branched from the main harness 126 has a taillight connection terminal132 connected to the taillight 130 of the utility vehicle 10. The mainharness 126 also connected to the battery 60 has a headlight connectionterminal 136 extending forward via the relay 100B and connected to theheadlight 134 of the utility vehicle 10.

In the arrangement that the battery 60 is located behind the back panel22, the distance between the battery 60 and the electrical component box98 can be decreased, and the harness from the battery 60 to theelectrical component box 98 can be decreased.

Electric parts connected to the battery 60 via the relay 100B need aharness connected from the battery 60 to the relay 100B disposed withinthe electrical component box 98, and further a harness from the relay100B to the electric parts. Particularly, in a conventionalconfiguration of the taillight 130 disposed in a rear portion of theutility vehicle 10, a main harness is provided from a battery disposedin a rear portion of a cabin to an electrical component box disposedforward of the cabin. Moreover, a sub harness is further provided fromthe electrical component box disposed forward of the cabin to thetaillight 130. In this case, a surplus length of the harness round-tripin the front-rear direction of the utility vehicle 10 is required.According to the present embodiment, however, the electrical componentbox 98 and the battery 60 are disposed with the back panel 22 interposedtherebetween. Accordingly, the length of the harness can be made shorterthan the length of the harness in the configuration where the electricalcomponent box 98 is disposed forward of the cabin 18.

According to the utility vehicle 10, the ECU 100A is disposed within thebox portion 22B, while the power unit 26 is disposed behind the backpanel 22. In this case, the distance from the electrical component box98 to the engine 26A is short, and therefore the distance of the harnessfrom the ECU 100A to the engine 26A can be reduced. In a conventionalarrangement where the ECU 100A and the engine 26A are disposed with thecabin 18 interposed therebetween, a long harness is required. Accordingto the present embodiment, however, the ECU 100A disposed in the rearportion of the cabin 18 and the engine 26A disposed behind the cabin 18are connected by the main harness 126. Accordingly, the length of theharness decreases.

The embodiment has been described by way of example of the technology ofthe present invention. The accompanying drawings and detaileddescription have been presented for this purpose. Accordingly, some ofthe constituent elements described in the accompanying drawings and thedetailed description may include not only essential constituent elementsfor solving problems, but also constituent elements which are notessential for solving problems. It should not be therefore recognizedthat these not-essential components are imperative based on onlyconsideration that the not-essential components are depicted anddescribed in the accompanying drawings and detailed description.

Furthermore, various changes, substitutions, additions, omissions, andthe like within the scope of the appended claims or an equivalentthereof may be made for the embodiment described herein by way ofexample of the technology of the present invention.

1. A utility vehicle comprising: a seat; a back panel at least a part ofwhich is disposed behind the seat; and a battery disposed behind theback panel, wherein the battery is disposed above a seating surface ofthe seat.
 2. The utility vehicle according to claim 1, furthercomprising a carrier disposed behind the back panel, wherein the batteryis disposed between the back panel and the carrier; and the battery isdisposed above a lower end of the carrier.
 3. The utility vehicleaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a power unit that includes anengine and a speed change mechanism configured to change a number ofrotations of an output from the engine; and an exhaust pipe connected tothe engine, wherein the power unit is disposed behind the back panel andbelow the battery, and the exhaust pipe extends in a direction oppositeto the battery in a vehicle width direction from a connection portionwith the engine, and further extends rearward on one side of the utilityvehicle on a side opposite to the battery with respect to a vehiclewidth direction center plane.
 4. The utility vehicle according to claim3, further comprising: a carrier disposed behind the back panel; and asilencer connected to the exhaust pipe, wherein the battery is disposedbetween the back panel and the carrier, and the silencer is disposeddirectly below a rear portion of the carrier.
 5. The utility vehicleaccording to claim 3, further comprising: a transmission chamber thathouses the speed change mechanism; a first pipe that feeds outside airto the transmission chamber; and a second pipe that discharges air froman inside of the transmission chamber, wherein the first pipe passesdirectly below the battery, and the first pipe and the second pipe passthrough a side of the battery.
 6. The utility vehicle according to claim5, wherein an air outlet port of the second pipe overlaps the battery ina side view, and the air outlet port is directed to the engine.
 7. Theutility vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising: an air cleanerbox disposed on a side opposite to the battery in the vehicle widthdirection, and disposed to face the battery; and an intake pipe extendedfrom the air cleaner box and connected to the engine, wherein the intakepipe is disposed between the exhaust pipe and the air cleaner box in aside view.
 8. The utility vehicle according to claim 1, furthercomprising a fuel tank disposed below the seat, wherein the battery isdisposed on a side opposite to a protrusion that protrudes downward fromthe fuel tank with respect to a vehicle width direction center plane. 9.The utility vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: a sidecover disposed outside the battery in the vehicle width direction; andan upper cover that covers an upper portion of the battery.